Travel aid for the blind



Aug. 28:1?62

Filed May 26. 1961 L. w. WYMAN 3,051,097

TRAVEL AID FOR THE BLIND 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVEN TOR. 00/3 4/. WYMA/VAug. 28, 1962 L. w. WYMAN 3,

TRAVEL AID FOR THE BLIND Filed May 26, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

(GU J PM WYMA N United States Patent 3,051,097 TRAVEL AID FOR THE BLINDLouis W. Wyman, 799 Mountain View Drive, Moab, Utah Filed May 26, 1961,Ser. No. 113,003 7 Claims. ((31. 104 247 This invention relatesgenerally to aids for the blind, and in particular to atrack-and-follower arrangement for clearly marking a course of travelwhich may be easily sensed by a blind person. In the main, people thusafliicted, of necessity develop a keen sense of direction and anawareness of environment which serves in large measure to overcome theirhandicap, especially within their domicile, and other local sitesfrequently visited. However, the handicap can never be considered ascompletely overcome, and since the smallest mischance may have graveconsequences it is highly important to supplement the individualsfaculties with a guide means of a positive nature.

It is, therefore, a general object of the invention to provide amechanical aid for guiding localized travel by the blind. A furtherobject is to provide a device of the aforesaid nature which, whilecertain and positive in function, and adaptable in continuity overreasonably large areas, is nevertheless compact, and unobtrusive in theenvironment. More specifically, it is an object to provide a track guidesystem for cooperation with a follower carried by the individual. Otherobjects are to provide such an aid, which is simple in structure,reasonably small in size, free from unsightliness, low in cost, and easyof manufacture, installation and maintenance.

These and other objects, which will be apparent to those skilled in theart, are attained by the present invention, which may be brieflydescribed as comprising, in the preferred form, a channel-form track ofrubbery material having sloping, ramp-like sides overlying air spaces oftriangular section, whereby to yield to the pressure of a foot inordinary traffic, the track being adapted to guide a follower rollercarried on the lower end of a cane-like implement.

For a more detailed description of the invention, reference is made tothe following specification, as illustrated in the drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a portion of the track and the rollerfollower, being used by an individual,

FIGURE 2 is a schematic view, showing the track layout, in plan view, ina typical dwelling,

FIGURE 3 is a front elevational view of the roller, engaged in the guidetrack, the latter being shown in cross section,

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view, taken along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3, and

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a fragment of the track, taken at abranch junction, and showing a site marker.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference, and particularlyFIGURES 3 to 5, the track, which may be made in short sections ofstandard length, or cut to length from long stock, comprises a singlesheet of rubbery material, or plastic, molded or extruded in a form toprovide a central, rectangular channel-form groove 10, having a flatbottom 12, and flat, vertical sides :14, 16, and ramp-like flanges 18,20, making a low, dihhedral angle with the horizontal, and havingbevelled, outer edges co-planar with the under-side of the channelbottom 12, and adapted to dwell on a floor or ground surface.

Due to the sheet-form of the material and the slope of the ramps, ahollow space exists between each of them and the supporting surface, andthe system therefore is adapted to easily collapse under the weight of afoot, so that it does not present a hazard to either the blind, or themembers of the household having normal vision.

3,951,097 Patented Aug. 28, 1962 The slope of the ramps also helps tominimize the hazards or annoyances which might ordinarily be expected ina track layout. It will be noted that one of the corners, indicated at22, between the channel and a ramp, such as 18, is rounded, while theother corner 24, is sharp. This constitutes a tell-tale device whichindicates to the user the direction in which he is travelling; forinstance, to or from the house, or out of or into the house. This cornerstructure may be easily sensed by the feel through the roller, eitherupon entering the track obliquely, or by a slight twist or tilt of theroller while in position in the track. This relieves in large measurethe continual need for memorizing position on the occasion of eachchange of location.

As a follower, cooperating with the guide track, there is provided afree-wheeling roller 26, mounted on a shaft 28, consisting of a boltwith head 30, and carried in a fork mounting 32, being secured by a nut34. On its top, the fork 32 carries an upright bolt 36, surrounded by abearing sleeve 38 with a bottom flange 4t}. Mounted on the sleeve 38,for rotation about an axis transverse to that of the wheel shaft 28 is asleeve 42 carried at the end of a dog-leg bend 44 on a metal ferrule 46,having a conical cavity 48 received on a reduced shank 50 on the lowerend of a cane-like handle 52, which may have an upper crook, such asindicated at 54, for convenient hand grasping.

The roller 26 is preferably equipped with a rubber tire 56, and thiswill be of a width to substantially span the track channel 10, withslight clearance for easy passage, but not enough play to lead toderailment. The journalled mounting of the cane on the roller mountingalso discourages derailment, especially at turns in the track, as wellas permitting a comfortable range of orientation of the user.

7 As a further navigational aid, the track may be provided with sitemarkers arranged in the path of travel so as to be encountered by a footof the traveler. In the form illustrated in FIGURE 5, the markercomprises a three dimenSiQnal unit of distinctive form, comprising abase sheet, having a section 58 adapted to dwell on the floor or theground, as the case may be, and a sloping section 60 arranged at anangle the same as the sloping sides of the track, to one of which it ispermanently, or detachably connected by adhesive, or other suitablemeans. For identifying a particular location, the pad 58-60 carriesdistinctive features of shape and bulk, and in the case shown, themessage is conveyed by a prismatic superstructure on the pad, consistingof a ridgeform prominence having a flat top 62 and sloping sides 64, 66,the ridge extending from the sloping face 61) to the outer edge of thehorizontal section 58. Obviously, the possible shapes and sizes of themarkers are almost endless in variety, but as a practical matter, theywill preferably be arranged in a series of variants in a definite familyof geometric forms. Thus, whereas the prominence in FIGURE 5 is shown ashaving a flat top, this may occur in various widths, differing bysensible increments, and in particular, in FIGURE 1, the ridge is shownas a single sharp line, the apex of a prism of triangular section.

Fixing the track in place, to avoid creep is important, and for indooruse this may be conveniently accomplished by strips of adhesive 68, or asuitable cement, securing it to a floor 69. For outdoor use, the bottomof the track channel may be provided with perforations to accommodatespikes 70 (FIGURE 5) by means of which it is anchored to the ground 72,

In a typical layout, the track system will have spurs or branches, andin FIGURE 5 is shown one manner of effecting the joint at the spur,wherein one or the other 1:: of the meeting parts is undercut to providea sloping and diagonal meeting edge 74.

In FIGURE 2 is shown a track layout in a typical threebedroom home, thestructure of the dwelling being indicated in broken lines, and the trackbeing indicated schematically, in solid lines. The system will be clearwithout detailed discussion, beyond noting that the track has a maintrunk line 75 in the hall area, communicating with branches '78 leadingto the several rooms, and in particular, two branches 80 leading toouter doors. For illustrative purposes, these latter are shown as havingthe site markers, as does a branch 82 joining the two, but the markersmay be located as deemed necessary or desirable. One of the markers, 84,is similar to the one shown in FIGURE 5, while another, 86, is similarto the marker shown in FIGURE 1. A third marker, 88, appears as afour-sided pyramid.

While a certain preferred embodiment has been shown and described,various modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art, inthe light of this disclosure, and the invention should not, therefore,be deemed as limited, except insofar as shall appear from the spirit andscope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A guiding device for the blind, comprising a track of sheet-form,rubbery material having two sloping ramps with bevelled, outer edgesadapted to dwell on a ground surface, said track having a channel-form,longitudinally extending groove defined by parallel wall portionsdepending from the inner edges of the respective ramps, and having abottom wall substantially co-planar with the outer edges of the ramps,said ramps, wall portions, and ground surface defining triangular airspaces, one of said inner edges of said ramps being rounded, and theother being relatively sharp, means to fix said track in position on asupporting surface, a site-identifying element having a base portionsecured, in part, to one of said ramps, and extending therefrom in part,and having a prominence for sensing by contact of a human foot, and afollower means for cooperation with said track, comprising a cane-likehandle, with a transversely extending sleeve at one end, a rollermounting bracket having a portion journalled in said sleeve, and aroller mounted for free rotation in said mounting, said roller being ofa width slightly less than that of the groove in said track.

2. A guiding device for the blind, comprising a track of sheet-form,rubbery material having a longitudinally extending, central groove ofchannel section, and side ramps arranged in sloping relation downwardfrom the top of said groove, and defining air spaces above a supportingsurface, said ramps having different and distinguishable surfacecharacteristics at the line of junction with said groove, means to fixsaid track in position on a supporting surface, a site-identifyingelement having a base portion secured, in part, to one of said ramps,and extending therefrom in part, and having a prominence for sensingthrough contact by a human foot, and a follower means for cooperationwith said track, comprising a handle, a roller mounting rotatablymounted on one end of said handle, and a roller mounted for freerotation in said mounting, on an axis transverse to that of saidmounting, said roller adapted for rolling movement along the groove insaid track.

'3. A guiding device for the blind, comprising a track of sheet-form,rubbery material with two downwardly disposed, sloping side ramps and alongitudinally disposed, central channel, said ramps defining air spacesabove a supporting surface and having different, and distinguishablesurface characteristics adjacent said channel, a site-identifyingelement, responding to the sense of feel, carried by one of said ramps,and a follower means for cooperation with said track, comprising ahandle, a roller mounting rotatably mounted on one end of said handle,and a roller mounted for free rot-ation in said mounting, on an axistransverse to that of said mounting, said roller adapted for movementalong the channel in said track.

4. A guiding device for the blind, comprising a track of sheet-form,rubbery material with two downwardly disposed, sloping side ramps and alongitudinally disposed central channel, said ramps defining air spacesabove a supporting surface, and having different and distinguishablesurface characteristics adjacent said chan nel, and a follower means forcooperation with said track, comprising a handle, a roller mountingrotatably mounted on one end of said handle, and a roller mounted forfree rotation in said mounting, on an axis transverse to that of saidmounting, said roller adapted for movement along the channel in saidtrack.

5. A guiding device for the blind, comprising a track of sheet-formmaterial with two downwardly disposed,

sloping side ramps overlying hollow spaces, and a longitudinallydisposed, central channel, and a follower means for cooperation withsaid track, comprising a handle, a roller mounting rotatably mounted onone end of said handle, and a roller mounted for free rotation in saidmounting, on an axis transverse to that of said mounting, said rolleradapted for movement along the channel in said track.

6. A guiding device for the blind, comprising a track of sheet-form,with .two downwardly disposed, sloping side ramps overlying hollowspaces whereby to be collapsible under pressure, and a longitudinallydisposed channel, and a follower means for cooperation with said track,comprising a handle, and a roller mounted for rotation at one end ofsaid handle and adapted to roll along said channel.

7. A device as in claim 6, said track arranged in a plurality ofconnected, branch sections.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS406,391 Dibble July 2, 1889 1,734,041 Miller Nov. 5, 1929 2,068,403Ekstrom Jan. 19, 1937 2,125,590 Smallwood Aug. 2, 1938 2,575,055 JaegerNov. 13, 1951 2,595,021 Swanson Apr. 29, 1952

